The whole world has watched in horror as Australia has been burnt and decimated. Photographs and videos of communities in face masks, huddled on beaches engulfed in an ominous orange haze have been shared with the statement, this is climate change. And it is, but it is also colonisation. The colonial mismanagement of land in Australia is in the spotlight and public calls for cultural burning and Indigenous land management have made it into mainstream discourse. First Nations people's connection to country is vital to caring for this land, and we need to act on this and use our power to uplift Indigenous action and voices.
Indigenous people are on the frontlines of the climate crisis, they have a lot on the line and they're organised. They've been fighting for their land and sacred sites for years. The least we can do right now is to amplify their voices and support them. Often they don't need our hands on help, as Murrawah of the Wangan and Jagalingou has said. They've got all the hands on deck that they need, and they often just need one thing that will enable them to really have a chance at fighting an opponent as formidable as the fossil fuel industry. And that's money.
Here are a few organisations run by Indigenous people, for Indigenous people (and for this planet we all live on) who we can support right now.
The Wangan and Jagalingou Family Council
The Wangan and Jagalingou family council are the Traditional Owners of the land in far north west Queensland where Adani is planning on building the biggest coal mine in the Southern Hemisphere.
For the Wangan and Jagalingou people, their country - the land, is their culture. In their words, this is why they can't let the Adani Carmichael Mine go ahead - "Our traditional lands are an interconnected and living whole; a vital cultural landscape. It is central to us as a People, and to the maintenance of our identity, laws and consequent rights. If the Carmichael mine were to proceed it would tear the heart out of the land. The scale of this mine means it would have devastating impacts on our native title, ancestral lands and waters, our totemic plants and animals, and our environmental and cultural heritage."
Right now, the Wangan and Jagalingou are on the frontlines, and one of last barriers stopping Adani from getting into the Galilee Basin, where Adani want to build their mega mine. For the last 5 years, the W&J have stood strong and said no, over and over, despite Adani offering them money to build the mine on W&J land. Their country is their identity, and has far more value to them. They've gone to court with Adani multiple times to fight them off, and travelled around the United States and South Korea, explaining to banks and financiers why they can't back this mine with their money. Multiple court appearances, flights and building a campaign that's well known around the country all cost a lot of money, and more than ever right now the W&J Family Council could use our support.
SEED
SEED is Australia's first ever climate organisation 100% run by Indigenous young people. They're working on three campaigns, one of which is aiming to ban fracking in the Northern Territory. Right now, a massive 51% of the NT is covered in fracking exploration licenses. Across the NT there is only one water table, which could be poisoned if fracking goes ahead. This will put people's health at risk, not only through the water, but the through the toxic fumes emitted through fracking. Not to mention it will ruin beautiful parts of Australia - which often double as sites that have sacred significance to local First Nations people. SEED go into local communities who feel powerless against the fossil fuel industry and show them how to take action.
The following video shows just how important this land is to the local people, and it introduces some of the people from organisations I'm about to mention. They come from places where fracking is happening now, and we see the effects of it. If you've got 20 minutes right now, this film is really worth watching.
Firesticks Alliance Indigenous Corporation
Firesticks is an "Indigenous led network that aims to re-invigorate the use of cultural burning" . The Firesticks Alliance facilitates training, conducts monitoring and also does on the ground work, carrying out cultural burns. They advocate to "protect, conserve and enhance cultural and natural values of people and Country through cultural fire and land management practices.".Cultural burning, in Firesticks' words, describes 'burning practices developed by Aboriginal people to enhance the health of the land and its people '.
The importance of supporting Indigenous communities and knowledge is in the spotlight following the bushfires that have torn through Australia in 2019 and continue into 2020. During these bushfires a fire swept through the Hunter Valley in Australia and cultural burning by Dennis Barber (who started Koori Country Firesticks) helped save a home from fire.
The alliance's ultimate goal is to "support cultural learning pathways that enable and empower Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities to work collectively towards resilient landscapes". Indigenous fire management means healing country, say Firesticks, and Indigenous communities have an "extensive knowledge that is alive today, healing culture and burning for biodiversity as we have done for thousands of years". You can donate to Firesticks here.
Fire Relief Fund for First Nations Communities (fundraiser finished)
Australia has been experiencing unprecedented bushfires, which have devastated the country. This fundraiser is going to help fire affected First Nations people in Australia through covering temporary relocation costs, home and furniture refurbishment, resettling expenses when required, and replacement of vital belongings, such as medical equipment, clothing and toiletries. All of this help will be provided in a culturally sensitive way - this fundraiser is organised by a Yorta Yorta man, in consultation with fire affected First Nations peoples across the East Coast of Australia.
We acknowledge that the Australian fires are happening across Sacred Aboriginal lands, where sovereignty has never been ceded. It's their country, and their sacred sites that are burning. Going forward, we need to recognise that First Nations people's connection to country is vital to caring for this land, and we need to act on this. You can donate by credit or debit card here.
If you're a young person in Australia keep your eye out for Australian Youth Climate Coalition's events, they've run solidarity training workshops in the past.
